Toolbox Saddlebags for under $20

Time and time again I find myself having to pack my rain gear with the loads of other misc. items into my backpack and hope they all fit.
I've always knew that I wanted to use saddlebags to solve this problem but I could never convince myself to dish out $80+.
So I discovered that the most economical and effective alternative was to use toolboxes.
They can be locked and waterproofed but best of all: they're cheap.

Note: These particular toolboxes are NOT waterproof. Use your discretion as to how you'd like to use them and make improvements/adjustments according to your needs.

Step 1 Gather your tools and materials

Of course, a great toolbox saddlebag starts with the toolbox. I picked up two 16" Workforce toolboxes from Home Depot for $7.47 each (amazing yeah?). That's about $15 already. (The 22" Husky toolbox will be for another instructable ;) )

Next, pick up the misc. nuts, bolts and flat/lock washers. I've estimated it to run about $5 but I just found them around the garage (FREE!).

Lastly, you'll need to do some minor custom metal work in order to form a rack for the toolboxes to be bolted onto. I had a couple of old refrigerator racks that I had cut to sizesuper heated with a blow torch and bent into shape. Have fun but be safe! (Fiiiireee gooooood.)

It helps to have a screwdriver with drill bits and pliers of some type to bore holes into the toolbox and tighten the screws/nuts.

Comments

[speedhump]

One of my toolboxes is the same as the one used by Kamiana8. Not a good choice. They leak through the handle attachments.

[Kamiana8]

It does have a tendency to leak through the handle and I think the fabric my uncle bought just might remedy the issue. I'll be adding it to the end of this instructable as soon as we figure out how to sew and secure it over the toolbox.

[karlpinturr]

Nice idea!

I did a similar thing 25-30 years ago, and put a motorcycle topbox on a very badly homemade bike rack. It didn't last long, as I was permanently overloading it. Eventually the rack collapsed, taking me down and cracking the topbox beyond repair (at that time - I might have been able to resurrect it nowadays) on the road. Still...

One question - I have some similar-looking toolboxes to yours, but the rain gets in through the point where the handles join the lids - do you have a way to solve that?

[Kamiana8]

daaang, a motorcycle accident? I guess we have something in common now.

As far as waterproofing it, my best idea right now is to grab some kind of water-repellent-type fabric that would fit over the toolbox (think "umbrella") and sew on a drawstring; this should allow you to seal it shut and in theory, keep the water out.

I'm trying to work on this solution myself since I totally understand your problem as I had water collect in my toolbox before. At that time it was dark and I was too tired to get upset or fix it so I just drilled a 1/16" hole through the bottom of the toolbox and drained the water haha I'm much more adamant on finding a solution now and I look forward to posting my results.

[karlpinturr]

Oops! - Slight misunderstanding there (my bad!) - it was actually a pushbike, not a motorbike.

And the mopre I think about waterproofing the toolboxes, the harder it is to see a solution that won't end up costing more than the boxes, themselves (though it should still work out cheaper than buying something new).

For now, a hole in each corner is probably best.

[Kamiana8]

no harm done.

I'd be crazy enough to take apart an umbrella and see how that works haha

[agis68]

excellent brilliant excellent and relativly cheap.....5/5.... 4 for giving me the idea to do something same on my Rebel....(not toolbox but little bigger) 1 for the project.....!!!!!!

[Kamiana8]

haha I wouldn't mind giving you a score as well. how about I give you 1 for your project, 1 posting to instructables, 1 for sending me the link, 1 for referencing my instructable and 1 for finding a conventional approach to building the mounting brackets so that I can tell "jhamilton-1" about it and try it on my bike as well? sweet deals

[jhamilton-1]

I wonder if this would be a bit cleaner if you used a more conventional approach to building the mounting brackets. I love the idea of using toolboxes.

[Kamiana8]

haha yeah, I have no idea. The pipe clamps were the best I could come up with since I wanted to be able to un-mount the whole assembly when I had the need to do so. looking forward to your suggestions

[Teauxni]

Then consider webbed strapping with the quick release closures. You could even have one end of the closure permanently on the bike and the other permanently on the rack. The only problem I haven't figure out yet is how to make that theft proof. I'll keep thinking.

[Brunomaster]

No podes ser mas groncho y cochino.

[Kamiana8]

come again? english perhaps

[Lorddrake]

google translate gave me

"You can not be more groncho and pig."

when i plugged it in .. i guess it losses something in the translation lol.

[Teauxni]

Looking at your clothes pin photo, I'm thinking that more bolts, washers and some spacers, (could be wood, pvc, or thick foam insulation) would make that a more permanent solution. It seems the clothes pins will shake loose after a while. Great job on this!

[Kamiana8]

funny you say that, I actually DID lose a couple of clothespins so I'll definitely look into more permanent solutions. I don't want to end up using pipe clamps when hanging my clothes to dry haha

[badpanda]

Nice work! Check these out, same concept with ammo cans I did a while back. http://www.instructables.com/id/Ammo-Can-Saddlebags/

[WareShoals]

Nice work! I had a lugage rack on my Kawi and used a tool box as a trunk. Nice touch using a refrigerator rack for a support. That was a good idea.

[l8nite]

before MacGyver this would have been called redneck engineering either way its a great idea . For a little more money you could use large fishing tackle boxes, they are even more leak resistant and the larger ones have removable bottoms.. WOW the possibilities,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Kamiana8]

You sir offer a very tempting proposition and I'd relish the challenge. thanks for the suggestion!

[tyeo098]

Or 30/50cal ammo cans.

[Kamiana8]

I tried researching those at my local surplus store and although they were decently priced, they were very heavy without anything in them so I had to default to lightweight toolboxes. But thanks for the suggestion!

[Phil B]

The hose clamps are a handy and inexpensive way to hang the refrigerator racks onto the motorcycle. I would encourage you to make friends with someone who has a welder. I have one and am always glad to help someone out who needs a couple of simple welds for a useful project. People who have welders are quite often looking for excuses to use them. And, your friend may even be willing to give you some "lessons" in welding. Later, when you can afford a welder, yourself; you will be more ready to make good use of it. That is just a thought.

[Kamiana8]

thanks! I actually have two different types of welding machines but the hose clamps allowed me to remove the racks from the bike. It offers some flexibility if I were to design or install other saddlebags.